Relaxed Porter goes 5-for-5 on bulls, collects $274,738

Spencer Patterson

Monday, Oct. 30, 2000 | 9:49 a.m.

Even before he arrived in town last week, Tater Porter knew he had no chance to catch points leader Chris Shivers atop the Professional Bull Riders points standings.

So with that pressure off, the 29-year-old from Kenansville, Fla., focused his attention on the four-day Bud Light Cup World Championships at the Thomas & Mack Center. And when all was said and done, Porter was the only rider in the 45-man field to cover all five of his bulls successfully, earning him a $274,738 payday.

"I was relaxed," Porter said after completing round five on Sunday. "I knew what I wanted to do, and I knew what my goals were. I was on my game."

One of just three riders to post scores in each of the first three rounds, Porter came into Sunday's action leading the field with a total of 268.5 points. His perfect streak nearly came to an end in round four, but he was granted a re-ride after his bull bucked him into the back of the gate coming out the chute.

"He reared up in the chute and then he hit his hip on the gate," Porter said. "That fouled him up a bit, and it messed up my timing. It was a call that could have went either way. I was fortunate to get it."

Porter made the most of his reprieve, scoring an 87.5 on his makeup ride to take a commanding 82.5-point lead over his nearest competitor, Terry Don West, going into the final round, which featured the top 15 finishers from the first four rounds.

But, as it turned out, Porter would need one more successful ride to take home the event title. After Dave Samsel scored a 93 on his final ride to move into first place, Porter became just the second rider this year to last the requisite eight seconds on Copenhagen Cash -- one of the toughest bulls in the field -- to match Samsel's 93.

"It was beautiful," said Porter, who earned a PBR-best total of $405,789 in 2000. "The bulls here have been handpicked. They're among the rankest in the world. It's an honor to get past five of them."

Shivers went home with the 2000 overall points title despite failing to convert any of his four attempts in Las Vegas -- a disappointing performance he admitted took a bit of the luster off his championship belt buckle.

"I would have liked to have a good finals," said Shivers, who captured five event titles this year.

"The finals mean a lot to me, and it's a big step down not to do well here."

Ty Murray wound up second in the points standings, with Porter rounding out the top three.

Sunday night also marked the final performance of infamous bull Red Wolf, who is being retired at age 13 after more 90-point rides than any bull in PBR history.

Fittingly, Pete Hessman capped off the animal's career with a 90-point ride in round four.